Breath of Fire Pranayama Tutorial to Cleanse + Energize Your Body

Pranayama, or conscious breathwork, is an amazing practice to not only strengthen our lungs and improve our blood circulation, but to also move energy within the body. There are many different types of pranayama techniques to benefit our body, and they are an amazing addition to our yoga practice.

Breath of Fire is a powerful pranayama practice often used in Kundalini Yoga. Breath of Fire can be taught as both a beginner pranayama or as an advanced pranayama because it is a simple yet powerful practice.

In Breath of Fire pranayama, both the inhale and exhale are equally active

Breath of Fire pranayama creates heat within the body, increase circulation, balance the nervous system and increase concentration. Breath of Fire also has a strong purification effect on the energy system within our body – especially on the second chakra and the seventh chakra.

The Breath of Fire is similar to Kapalabhati Pranayama or Skull Shining, but there is a subtle and fundamental difference. In Skull Shining, the inhale is passive, and the exhale is active. In Breath of Fire, both the inhale and exhale are equally active. Both practices are amazing for your mind, body and energy.

Follow These Steps to Practice Breath of Fire Pranayama:

Step 1.

Begin seated with your hands resting on your knees or practice a mudra of choice.

Step 2.

Inhale. This is a quick, forceful inhale into your lungs. The inhale is of medium-intensity but without over-exerting yourself.

Step 3.

Exhale. Without pausing, exhale with an equally matched level of force as your inhale. Be sure the inhale is the same length and depth as the exhale.

Step 4.

Repeat. Continue these dynamic inhales and exhales without pausing. The inhales should seamlessly merge into the exhales, and vice versa.

Step 5.

Activate your core. Once you are comfortable with the flow of the breath, bring your attention to your core muscles. Begin to use your core to power the breath.

Step 6.

Complete. To end your Breath of Fire practice, draw in a long and deep inhale and slowly release your hands down by your side. As your breath becomes neutral, set an intention to clear any leftover or blocked energy around you.

Tips and Modifications:

Breath of Fire does not focus on thoroughly filling each area of the lungs. Breath of Fire focuses on the controlled pull of the inhale and push of the exhale

Find a natural level of speed and force for each breath. There should be no shortness of breath and no pause between the inhale and exhale

If you do experience difficulty or shortness of breath, remember to experiment with the speed. It is best to start your Breath of Fire practice slowly until you are comfortable, and gradually increase your speed when you feel ready

If you have a solid Breath of Fire practice, you can begin to move energy within your body to the Crown Chakra by focusing your attention on the top of your head

Try practicing for 30 seconds and slowly work your practice towards two minutes over time

What You May Experience

Breath of Fire moves a lot of energy within your body which can be felt and experienced physically. It is common to experience the following:

A “tingling” sensation on your face, stomach, or chest

A lightness or “clearing” sensation at the top of your head

A warm or pleasant sensation in your second chakra

If your eyes are closed, flashes of color can be seen in your inner vision

Overall, Breath of Fire doesn’t take that long to master, and it comes with amazing benefits. This form of pranayama is a great addition to your wellness routine to build internal heat, move blocked energy or begin your yoga practice with a powerful pranayama practice.

Ashton is a life coach and the founder of BrainWaveLove – an embodiment of his desire to help people find practical, effective ways for manifesting their dreams, and experiencing success in all realms of life. Ashton likes to go the extra mile to assist people in their journey, so his latest Free E-book Missing Keys To The Art Of Manifestation is accompanied with a couple of weeks of free video coaching, and can be downloaded at his blog.